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When to Plant Wax Beans in Weakley County, TN

Wax beans are a yellow-podded variety of snap beans with a buttery, slightly sweeter flavor than green beans. They are easy to spot on the plant for picking.

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 205 days.

At an elevation of 1,314 feet, Weakley County receives approximately 45.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Wax Beans during the growing season.

Weakley County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
205 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
205 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Weakley County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 10

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Weakley County

How your county's soil matches Wax Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3โ€“7.1) overlaps with Wax Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Weakley County is excellent for Wax Beans โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Wax Beans.

How to Plant Wax Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Wax Beans

4
successive plantings in your 205-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 120 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Wax Beans

Wax Beans needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Wax Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Weakley County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Wax Beans Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Wax Beans needs ~1,179 GDD — county provides 4,202 GDD Excellent fit

Wax Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Weakley County, TN

Wax Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ May 3
Harvest June 7 Jun 7 โ€“ Aug 2

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

205 days in Weakley County

Growing Tips for Wax Beans in Weakley County

Direct sow Wax Beans outdoors after April 05 in Weakley County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Wax Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost. Pick pods regularly when young and tender. Bush types produce a concentrated harvest while pole types yield longer. Avoid working around wet plants.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Wax Beans in Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Wax Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Weakley County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Weakley County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.